My Scholarship entry - Giving back on the road

n_t — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 02:09:30 GMT

A gas station, highway, roadside supermarket, café, modern train station and farm market composed the picture of Rapsani train station. Something doesn’t work – and I flipped drawn and scanned map upside down.
My goal - conference in Leptokaria, Greece.

According to my estimations I should have reached the destination point half of an hour ago, just like it was indicated on the ticket. The arrival deadline alarmed that nobody was waiting for me anymore; my timer was minus 15 min.
Plan # 1. Ask how far the desired Leptokaria is, inform the organizers about my delay; hitchhike and get to the place whatever happens. Result: epic failure. Due to my Greek appearance (discovered at the place) the drivers stopped, but hearing my gibberish English - just shrug their shoulders.
Plan # 2. Call a cab and even if it cost me all money I have it will take to me the damn Leptokaria. Result: epic failure. Not a single taxi driver wants to go to the back of beyond.
Plan # 3. Take one of the buses going to Thessaloniki and get off next to Leptokaria. Result: epic failure. Just that day there were 2 buses scheduled and guess - not to the place I needed.
Plan # 4. Run across the highway to the café, snack, relax, think of good. Result: it was cool to look like a local.
Plan # 5. Grab my luggage; get back to the rail tracks; as soon as I see the train to make a sign with the hand (as if catching a cab); get on the train; done. I think only Greece has taxi-trains. They consist of 2-3 carriages that collect those, who were late, missed the stop, misunderstood the schedule etc. Additional travel costs were €2,5 and 27 minutes of retelling my story to idlers.

My story is a routine for many travelers here. Remember, when you ask the conductor to notify you about the Leptokaria station at 12.05 p.m. stick to 1 criterion. Otherwise, you have a chance to get off at 12.05 p.m. in Rapsani or whenever in Leptokaria. As the local train schedule is very much dependent on the motorman’s mood.

What Could Happen to You but Happened to Me

My Scholarship entry - Giving back on the road